Pack of rigid type for tobacco products

ABSTRACT

A pack of rigid type for tobacco products, substantially of prismatic geometry and presenting a plurality of side faces ( 15, 16, 17; 34, 35, 36, 37 ), comprises a container ( 3; 29; 40 ), a lid ( 5; 30; 41 ), and a coupon ( 24 ) inserted inside the pack ( 1 ), disposed in contact with at least one of the side faces ( 15, 16, 17; 34, 35, 36, 37 ). At least one of the side faces ( 15, 16, 17; 34, 35, 36, 37 ) of the pack ( 1 ) presents a window ( 25 ) serving to expose a predetermined area ( 27 ) of the inserted coupon ( 24 ) bearing advertisements, messages and written matter addressed to the consumer. Where the pack ( 1 ) has a reinforcing frame ( 20 ) positioned internally of the container ( 3; 29 ), the window ( 25 ) is afforded by a face ( 7 ) of the container occupied by the frame ( 20 ) and the frame itself affords a respective window ( 26 ) substantially coinciding with the window ( 25 ) in the container.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a pack of rigid type for tobaccoproducts.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the following specification, the term “pack” can be taken tomean both a carton containing a plurality of packets of cigarettes, anda single packet containing a group of cigarettes or tobacco products ingeneral.

[0003] Rigid packs of the type in question are fashioned generally fromrespective flat precreased diecut blanks, the single pack comprising acontainer and a lid which, in the case of the packet in particular, isattached hingedly to a rear edge of the container in such a way as toenclose an open end of the selfsame container, also a reinforcing framedisposed partly inside the container and secured thus internally to afront face and to two flank faces of the selfsame container.

[0004] It is increasingly the practice to print advertisements, messagesand other written matter on the outer surface of these packs, addressedto the consumer, which must be placed clearly in view, expressed in thelanguage of the various countries where the product is sold and,moreover, customized on a case by case basis to ensure conformity withnational statutory requirements in different countries.

[0005] In certain countries it is also normal for the price of theproduct to be printed on the outer surface of the pack and, especiallyin those countries where changes in price are frequent due tosignificant inflationary factors, the written matter printed on the packmust often be changed and adapted in response to market conditions.

[0006] All this dictates that the diecut blanks used to fashion thepacks must be differentiated from country to country, and even for eachindividual country, with resulting high inventory and production costs.

[0007] It is also the practice to manufacture packs of the type inquestion furnished internally with inserts, namely cards, coupons andthe like, bearing written and pictorial images addressed to theconsumer.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to avoid the use ofdifferent blanks, adopting a single standard blank for all countries andutilizing the inserts as the background on which to print theadvertisements, messages and other written matter addressed to theconsumer.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The stated object is realized according to the present inventionin a pack of rigid type for tobacco products, substantially of prismaticgeometry, presenting a plurality of side faces and comprising acontainer, a lid, and a coupon inserted inside the pack, disposed incontact with at least one of the side faces, characterized in that atleast one of the side faces presents a window serving to expose apredetermined area of the inserted coupon bearing advertisements,messages and written matter addressed to the consumer.

[0010] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example,with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011]FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate three packets of cigarettes embodiedin accordance with the present invention, viewed schematically and inperspective;

[0012]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two cartons for packets of cigarettesexemplifying a first embodiment of a relative pack according to thepresent invention, viewed schematically and in perspective;

[0013]FIG. 6 illustrates a carton for packets of cigarettes exemplifyinga second embodiment of a relative pack according to the presentinvention, viewed schematically and in perspective.

[0014] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 1 denotes apack for tobacco products, in its entirety, which in this particularinstance consists in a rigid packet 2 such as will contain a group ofcigarettes (not illustrated), comprising a container 3 of cuppedembodiment affording an open top end 4, surmounted by a lid 5 likewiseof cupped embodiment hinged to the container 3 along a relative hingeline 6 and rotatable thus between a open position (not illustrated), anda position in which the top end 4 is closed.

[0015] The container 3 presents a front face 7, a rear face 8, two flankfaces 9 and a bottom end face 10; in like manner the lid 5 presents afront face 11, a rear face 12, two flank faces 13 and a top end face 14.

[0016] The aforementioned front, rear and flank faces of the container 3and the lid 5 together constitute respective side faces of the assembledpack 1, of which the front face is denoted 15, the rear face denoted 16and the flank faces denoted 17, these in turn combining with the bottomend face 10 of the container 3 and the top end face 14 of the lid 5 todefine an outer wrapper 18 of the packet 2.

[0017] Each packet 2 accommodates an inner wrapper 19 enveloping theaforementioned group of cigarettes, and is furnished with a reinforcingframe 20 interposed between the outer wrapper 18 and the inner wrapper19 and secured thus to the container 3. The frame 20 comprises a portion20 a located internally of the container 3 and a portion 20 b projectingexternally of the container from the open top end 4.

[0018] More particularly, the frame 20 includes a breast piece 21located partly in contact with the inside of the front face 7 of thecontainer 3, and two side pieces 22 secured in part to the insides ofthe flank faces 9 of the container 3.

[0019] The breast piece 21 of the frame 20 is delimited uppermost by anedge 23 of “U” outline disposed with the concave profile directed towardthe lid 5.

[0020] Lastly, each packet 2 is furnished with a coupon 24 interposedbetween the frame 20 and the inner wrapper 19. In the examples of FIGS.1 and 2 the coupon 24 is positioned below the breast piece 21 of theframe and partly in contact with the inside of the front face 7 of thecontainer 3, its top end extending beyond the top edge 23 of the frame20.

[0021] Alternatively, as in the example of FIG. 3, the coupon 24 can beinterposed between the frame 20 and the inside of the front face 7 ofthe container 3.

[0022] In the example of FIG. 1, the packet 2 presents a window 25afforded by the front face 7 of the container 3, positioned to coincidewith the breast piece 21 of the frame 20 which likewise affords a window26 coinciding substantially with the window 25 in the front face 7. Inthis way, it becomes possible to expose an area 27 of the coupon 24bearing written and pictorial matter addressed to the consumer, therebyobviating the need to print such matter directly on the outer wrapper 18of the packet 2.

[0023] In the example of FIG. 2, the window 25 is positioned in an areaof the front face 7 of the container 3 not occupied by the frame 20,which therefore does not present a relative window 26. Likewise in thisinstance the window 25 serves to expose an area 27 of the coupon 24bearing written and pictorial, matter addressed to the consumer.

[0024] In the example of FIG. 3, the window 25 is positioned in an areaof the front face 7 of the container 3 coinciding with the breast piece21 of the frame 20, although the frame does not present a relativewindow 26 since the coupon 24 is positioned in front of the breast piece21.

[0025] In a further embodiment not illustrated in the drawings, thewindow 25 might be positioned in an area of the front face 7 of thecontainer 3 occupied only in part by the frame 20. Rather than the fullwindow 26, in this instance, the frame 20 might present a cutawayportion of dimensions sufficient to expose the aforementioned area 27 ofthe coupon 24.

[0026] In the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, the packs 1 consist in rigidcartons 28 serving to contain a plurality of packets 2 of cigarettes.The geometry of the cartons 28 is similar in all respects to that of thepackets 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and accordingly, thecomponent parts are denoted where possible by the same reference numbersas used to denote the corresponding parts of the packets 2.

[0027] The single carton 28 comprises a container 29 surmounted by a lid30, hinged to the container along a relative hinge line 6 and rotatablethus between an open position (not illustrated) and a position in whichthe open top end 4 of the container 29 is closed, also a reinforcingframe 20 secured to the container 29, comprising a portion 20 a locatedinternally of the container 29 and a portion 20 b projecting externallyof the container 29 from the open top end 4.

[0028] Recalling the description already given with reference to thepackets 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the front, rear and flankfaces of the container 29 and the lid 30 combine likewise in the case ofthe carton 28 to constitute respective side faces of the assembled pack1, of which the front face is denoted 15, the rear face denoted 16 andthe flank faces denoted 17, these in turn combining with the bottom endface 10 of the container 29 and the top end face 14 of the lid 30 todefine an outer wrapper 18 of the carton 28.

[0029] Accordingly, in similar fashion to the packets 2, the carton 28illustrated in FIG. 4 presents a window 25 afforded by the front face 7of the container 29, positioned to coincide with the breast piece 21 ofthe frame 20 which likewise affords a window 26 coinciding substantiallywith the window 25 in the front face 7 in such a manner as to expose apredetermined area 27 of the coupon 24.

[0030] In the example of FIG. 5 the window 25 is positioned in an areaof the front face 7 of the container 29 not occupied by the frame 20,which therefore does not present a relative window 26. Likewise in thisinstance the window 25 serves to expose an area 27 of the coupon 24bearing written and pictorial matter addressed to the consumer.

[0031] In a further embodiment not illustrated in the drawings, thecarton 28 could be assembled with the coupon 24 disposed as in thepacket 2 illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0032] In the example of FIG. 6, the pack 1 consists in a carton 31presenting an outer wrapper 32 substantially of flattened parallelepipedgeometry referable to a predominating longitudinal axis denoted 33.

[0033] The carton 31 presents two mutually parallel larger side faces 34and 35, two mutually parallel smaller side faces 36 and 37 disposedperpendicular to the larger side faces 34 and 35, and two transverse endfaces 38 and 39.

[0034] As discernible from FIG. 6, the smaller side faces 36 and 37, theend faces 38 and 39 and the larger side-face denoted 35 combine toestablish a container 40, whilst the remaining side face 34 functions asa lid 41.

[0035] In accordance with the present invention, the carton 31 isfurnished with a coupon 24 interposed between the upwardly directedlarger side face 34, which serves as the lid 41, and the packets 2accommodated internally of the of the carton 31, and affords a window 25located in the selfsame larger side face 34 in such a manner as toexpose an area 27 of the coupon 24 bearing written and pictorial matteraddressed to the consumer.

[0036] In a further embodiment not illustrated in the drawings, thewindow 25 could be located in the front smaller side face 36. In thisinstance the coupon 24 would therefore be positioned in such a way thatat least one portion coincides with the front face 36.

1) A pack of rigid type for tobacco products, substantially of prismaticgeometry, presenting a plurality of side faces (15, 16, 17; 34, 35, 36,37) and comprising a container (3; 29; 40), a lid (5; 30; 41), and acoupon (24) inserted inside the pack (1), disposed in contact with atleast one of the side faces (15, 16, 17; 34, 35, 36, 37), characterizedin that at least one of the side faces (15, 16, 17; 34, 35, 36, 37)presents a window (25) serving to expose a predetermined area (27) ofthe inserted coupon (24) bearing advertisements, messages and writtenmatter addressed to the consumer. 2) A pack as in claim 1, serving tocontain a plurality of packets (2) of cigarettes, comprising at leastone outer wrapper (32) substantially of flattened parallelepipedgeometry referable to a predominating longitudinal axis (33), presentingtwo mutually parallel larger side faces (34, 35), two mutually parallelsmaller side faces (36, 37) disposed perpendicular to the larger faces(34, 35), and two transverse end faces (38, 39), wherein the window (25)is formed in at least one of the side faces (34, 35, 36, 37). 3) A packas in claim 1, serving to contain a plurality of packets (2) ofcigarettes, presenting a rigid outer wrapper (18) that comprises acontainer (29) of cupped embodiment surmounted by a lid (30) likewise ofcupped embodiment hinged to the container (29) and rotatable thusbetween an open position and a closed position, also a reinforcing frame(20) disposed internally of and secured in part to the container (29),and a coupon (24) interposed between the rigid wrapper (18) and thepackets (2), wherein the window (25) is formed in a face (7) of thecontainer (29) occupied by the frame (20). 4) A pack as in claim 1,serving to contain a group of cigarettes enveloped by a respective innerwrapper (19), presenting a rigid outer wrapper (18) that comprises acontainer (3) of cupped embodiment surmounted by a lid (5) likewise ofcupped embodiment hinged to the container (3) and rotatable thus betweenan open position and a closed position, also a reinforcing frame (20)disposed internally of and secured in part to the container (3), and acoupon (24) interposed between the container (3) and the inner wrapper(19), wherein the window (25) is formed in a face (7) of the container(3) occupied by the frame (20). 5) A pack as in claim 3 or claim 4,wherein the frame (20) presents a respective window (26) coincidingsubstantially with the window (25) formed in the face (7) of thecontainer (29, 3). 6) A pack as in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein thewindow (25) is formed in an area of the face (7) not occupied by theframe (20). 7) A pack as in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the window (25)is located in an area of the face (7) partially occupied by the frame(20).